MDOT considers contract to give Kalamazoo control of busy streets

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Major streets running through the heart of Kalamazoo would be improved if the state of Michigan gave up control of them, city staff said.

A long-awaited contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation would give the city of Kalamazoo jurisdiction over busy traffic arteries and $11.6 million to maintain them. Tuesday, city planners presented an update on the deal, among other plans to improve transportation for motorists, pedestrians and other users.

The agreement would turn over control of M-43, Park Street, Westnedge Avenue, Stadium Drive, and portions of other smaller connecting streets to the city of Kalamazoo. Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said a draft contract is being reviewed in Lansing but could be approved by both parties by the end of the year.

"Transferring these roads to the city of Kalamazoo gives us a lot more flexibility than the state of Michigan has," Chamberlain said. "It also allows us to make some of these connections and improvements in the future, specifically to the neighborhoods and the campuses ... This gives us more of an opportunity to start making those changes."

The idea emerged from an MDOT planning study started in 2016. It sought to find ways to make state trunk lines through Kalamazoo safer.

Bridges over the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek would remain under MDOT control.

Chamberlain said city and state officials looked at the condition of each of the roads "block by block" to determine how much Kalamazoo would need to spend on maintenance during the next decade. That number was estimated to be $11.6 million, though Chamberlain said MDOT would foot the bill.

Funds from the state would only be allowed to be used on roads included in the jurisdictional transfer. Chamberlain said the city budget should be able to handle maintenance after the 10 years are up.

Kalamazoo's public services department already fills in pot holes, shovels snow and performs other work through contracts with MDOT. This arrangement would continue in the future, Chamberlain said.

After acquiring the streets, the city will use traffic data from the state's study and conduct its own research to guide future changes. This research will begin in 2019, Chamberlain said.

"With these large state trunk lines running through many of our neighborhoods, it's very hard to get around," Chamberlain said. "With all the planning work that's been done, this will give us an opportunity to start meeting some of those needs identified through Imagine Kalamazoo."

Another informational meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Kalamazoo Metro Transit building on 530 N. Rose St.

Through the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 master plan and strategic vision process, non-motorized safety and accessibility were shown to rank highly among the concerns of residents. The most anticipated changes include slowing down traffic and converting one-way streets to accommodate traffic in both directions.

The master plan, adopted last year, calls pairs of parallel one-way streets, particularly Michigan and Kalamazoo avenues, "the greatest challenge for those who want to live, work and play downtown."

Chamberlain said converting streets from one-way to two-way traffic isn't as easy as repainting stripes on pavement. Intersections, traffic signals and signs would need to be reconfigured.

That effort is likely a few years away, he said.

Future changes would follow a complete streets policy presented in draft form Tuesday. Kalamazoo Neighborhood Activator Katie Reilly said the plan outlines how the city will design streets that can be used by everyone.

Each road project will be looked at as a way to apply complete streets design principles for the equity and safety of all users, she said.

All publicly and privately funded projects will be stacked against a checklist and reviewed by either city staff or a new committee. The checklist considers crash statistics, nearby transit connections, street capacity, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and other things.

After one year, a follow-up report will evaluate the project's impact on crashes, injuries, and fatalities, pedestrian and bicycle counts, vehicle miles traveled and satisfaction from residents.

Recommendations won't be considered where specific users are prohibited by law, if the cost is excessively disproportionate to the street's probable use and where where historic, cultural, or other artifacts would be harmed or destroyed in the process.

Projects and street improvements associated with developments will be reviewed during the site plan review process.

Other street projects will be reviewed by a committee comprised of seven or eight city employees. It will be assisted by an advisory committee of residents, advocates, and a planning commissioner.

The policy notes that the last half-century of transportation planning and design created many miles of "incomplete" streets within Kalamazoo. Areas of the city have no safe places to walk, bike, or access public transportation, it states.

It's resulted in streets that have a disproportionately harmful effect on "people of color, older adults, children, and those living in low-income neighborhoods," the policy states. Outside the obvious impacts to safety, Reilly said, people can be cut-off from jobs and healthcare, family and friends.

"The City of Kalamazoo envisions a connected network of safe streets that provides convenient access to all parts of the city," the policy states. "City streets are designed for equitable access, comfort, and mobility of any and all users regardless of ability, age, income, or race."

Reilly said Kalamazoo is considering an ordinance that would require vehicles to yield to pedestrians when crossing sidewalks. The City Commission could vote on the ordinance by the end of the year.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.